Local areas are keen to form Local Nature Partnerships

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

LNPs are a key commitment in the Natural Environment White Paper, aimed at bringing together local people and organisations to get the most from the natural environment.

This is the first round of a £1 million fund and is aimed at helping people kickstart their plans. Capacity-building activities being planned by successful applicants to the fund include:

Engaging businesses, health and education professionals and local communities in how a LNP in their area could work;

Developing priorities and a vision for a potential LNP with a wide range of partners; and

Looking at data about the natural environment in the local area to inform the development of a LNP.

Commenting on the response to the first round of the LNP capacity building fund Natural Environment Minister Richard Benyon said:

“It’s encouraging that so many local areas are interested in forming a Local Nature Partnership. It shows the commitment and energy local areas are putting into exploring how a partnership in their area could work and make a difference to the natural environment.”

The final round of the capacity building fund closes today. Applications to become a Local Nature Partnership will open in the winter to all potential partnerships. Participation in the capacity-building fund is not a necessary requirement for applying for a LNP status. The first LNPs will be announced by Ministers next summer.